Kevin Kinnally, Author at Conduit Street

Deep Dive: What Is One Penny on the Property Tax Worth?

Maryland counties all levy property taxes, but the same one-cent increase can generate more than $25 million in one jurisdiction and less than $500,000 in another. The difference comes down to the size and makeup of the local property tax base. That gap helps explain why comparing county tax rates alone tells only part of the story. Counties fund many of the same core services, but with very different levels of property tax capacity. A…

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October 7, 2026

County Budgets / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues

Federal 988 Bill Would Boost Local Crisis Response Funding

A bipartisan bill in Congress would provide long-term federal funding for 988 call centers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization services, and the behavioral health workforce that supports them. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Doris Matsui of California introduced the 988 Implementation Act, H.R. 10280, last month. The bill would authorize $441 million for local 988 call centers and another $100 million for mobile crisis response teams. The legislation would also make permanent an enhanced…

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October 6, 2026

Read more about the article Revenue Task Force Weighs School Funding Gaps, New Local Options

NACo compared the mix of county-generated revenues in Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia using 2022 Census finance data.

County Budgets / County News / Education / Feature / General Assembly News / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Revenue Task Force Weighs School Funding Gaps, New Local Options

Maryland’s Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures focused its October 2 meeting on rising school facility costs and several potential new revenue options for local governments. School construction and maintenance costs dominated the first part of the meeting. IAC outlined nearly $2 billion in annual unmet needs for school maintenance, operations, and capital renewal, along with a separate $1.3 billion gap in State school construction funding over the past two decades. The…

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October 5, 2026

County News / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use

Governor Launches New Permitting Team, Housing Initiatives

Governor Wes Moore signed two executive orders that could affect how counties handle permitting, development review, and housing production, including a new State-local permitting effort that will begin with Baltimore City, Montgomery County, Wicomico County, and the Town of Thurmont. The Permitting and Licensing Acceleration Team, or PLAT, will review State permitting, licensing, and certification processes and work with local governments on ways to reduce delays. The first round of work will focus on building…

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October 1, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / News You Can Use

Federal Uncertainty Lingers Over 2026 Emergency Management Grants

Maryland’s fiscal 2026 homeland security and emergency management grants are moving forward, but questions remain over the federal terms and conditions attached to the funding. FEMA has released the fiscal 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant and Homeland Security Grant Program award packages. MDEM must accept the EMPG award by November 9, and the HSGP award by November 24, and the Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the terms and conditions for both programs. EMPG…

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October 1, 2026

County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

This Week: Local Revenue Task Force Reconvenes

Maryland’s Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will meet again on Friday, October 2, as members continue weighing new local revenue options and prepare recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The virtual meeting begins at 1:00 pm, and will stream live on the Maryland General Assembly website. The agenda includes presentations on school construction, county revenue structures nationwide, several potential local revenue options, and current local tax rates. The Interagency Commission…

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September 30, 2026

Education / News You Can Use

Maryland Community Colleges Take Top National Ranking

Maryland earned the top spot in WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of community college systems, with five Maryland community colleges placing among the top 30 nationwide. The ranking marks the fourth consecutive year Maryland has taken the number one spot. WalletHub ranked Maryland ahead of New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Oregon after reviewing community colleges nationwide. The analysis draws from WalletHub’s 2026 assessment of 613 institutions and weighs cost and financing, education outcomes, and career…

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September 29, 2026

News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

State Revenue Forecast Ticks Up Despite Weak Growth

Maryland’s latest revenue forecast adds $319.9 million to expected fiscal 2027 revenues, but underlying General Fund revenues are still projected to decline 0.9% as the State faces slow growth, federal employment losses, elevated inflation, and other economic risks. The Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates (BRE) released its September update this week, raising the fiscal 2027 revenue forecast to $27.44 billion. BRE also issued its first fiscal 2028 forecast of $28.35 billion, representing 3.3% growth in…

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September 25, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / News You Can Use

FEMA Lifts Holds on 2025 Homeland Security Grants, MDEM Review Continues

FEMA has removed federal programmatic and financial holds affecting portions of Maryland’s federal fiscal 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program, allowing the Maryland Department of Emergency Management to move forward with subawards and final project reviews. The change applies to National Priority Area and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities funding under the FFY25 program. MDEM will now review each subrecipient’s complete project portfolio before determining which projects can move forward with reimbursement assurances. As previously reported…

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September 23, 2026

County News / Energy / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning

Governor Moore Signs Executive Order Establishing Data Center Review Framework

Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order establishing a new State review process for large data center projects, with local approvals, ratepayer protections, infrastructure impacts, and community engagement built into the framework. The order applies to data centers that require at least 25 megawatts of power at peak, including expansions that add 25 megawatts, as well as projects that qualify as large load customers under State law. It takes effect when a covered project seeks…

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September 23, 2026